iceman

I've seen some nice Warming Huts that could work for sure. Hotel Central reminds me of the Bar Scene from the first Star Wars. The few times stopping in there. Never slept there but hear it gets crazy on the weekends.

Clova is great! Population 43 Give or Take a few.

We know now that Straight was the better choice.

Trailblazer That route is just over 90 miles.

Chibougamau to Seneterre roughly 215 miles give or take a few. Seneterre to Lac Faillon about 65-70 miles. Seneterre has Motel Senabi 819-737-2327 Or Motel La Belle Villa 819-737-2331 Or in Lac Faillon 819-737-4429

Parent has Hotel Central 819-667-2377 Clova has Auberge Clova 819-662-3327 or Tamarac 819-662-3319 Barrage Gouin is east of Parent off TQ83 819-666-2332 St Michel many more choices.

Feb 12 1.5" new snow Tropical out there today. 36F

Gas in Louvincourt yes. intersection of 386 and 83 Right near the river crossing.

From Lac Repos intersection of 345 and 33 Its almost 200 miles either way you go to Clova Your looking at a 300 mile day from St Michel to Clova. Well real close to it anyway.

You need to take 345 to Lac Repos then either up the 345 to Kanawata then to 83 and west, probably best way. Or 345 to lac Repos then west on 33 to join up with 13. From Lac Repos you have those two options.

I am pretty sure 33 has part that is closed for Logging between st michel and Lac Repos. Not sure but better check on that. Pretty sure you need to go on 345 or 360 then 33 at Lac Repos to 13. I'm sure someone else here has more info for that. Last I heard from st michel (cabanon) to Lac Repos 345 or 360 were the only ways to go.

I'm not sure of your chosen route from St. Zenon to Clova, tell me which way you are going and I can tell you where to gas. For sure to Clova on 83 is gas in Parent. So at Clova you will gas and sleep. Next gas Lake Faillon on 83 is a lodge with rooms gas and food. Then gas in seneterre if you go in on the 83 or in Louvincourt at intesection 83/386 if you use the 386 trail. Val d'or gas in town then Gas in Louvincourt intersection of 83 and 386 right by the river crossing. Now after that you have 2 choices On the 386 you come to Kitchisakik(indian village) top off there and if you can make 120 miles if not then...... Once you turn left at the end of the 386 you are now on the 63 east. Not very far on the left there is a trail to Pavillion Lavendyre a lodge with gas food and rooms, note its like 7 miles down and then 7 miles back to 63. Continue on 63 east you come to A gas right on the trail along the road called Le Domaine food also here. Further down is another gas at the Classic a restaurant/gas right on trail. Definately need the gas at Domaine From there you should make Mt Laurier no Problem. Or just gas at Classic too if you want.

Our Picture from Ontario. just wish we had more time.

Yes Snowing on and off Nothing crazy but supposed to be 10cm by tues afternoon we shall see. 26F light snow. Almost 1" so far.

Still Closed due to logging. Pretty sure its for the year. Could be wrong. Only way is over the dam or the 345 to Repos.

Nice run Mark. No doubt the west is best. They got it going on. Usually little traffic too but with things being what they are elsewhere, its the only place worth it right now for big loops.

Sounds like its going good out there Mark. Curious to see how the 63 going east out of The Trout Lake Lodge is this year. Let me know. Keep on trucking.

X2 Maximum Adventure in Grand Mere 819-698-8899 Or 1-877-538-8899

Was very nice 2 weeks ago. Has been changed since last year through some logging areas was super. Go for it!

Sat Feb 9 12F cold Had about 2-3 inches of snow overnight. Blowing all over. No storm of the century but we'll take it.

Good Stuff Mark. Love that 386 very nice run there. I'm amazed at how many people I saw last week with no reservations that is nuts. Especially in the region with the best trails right now. Have a great trip.

Viper 386 was great all fixed up saw nothing like you were saying. All good to 83 on 386.

Day 6 Barrage Gouin to Shawinigan Sleds started right up today was much warmer only -20. Time to make the run for home. Was dreading it a bit anticipating seeing alot of sleds out there. Took the east trail from the Barrage Gouin back to 83. Arrived on the 83 and saw the first 6 of many others out there. Rolled east to the trail to Casey and down to Kanawata. Stopped for Gas at Kanawata. All trails Mint very nice. Left Kanawata and out the driveway to the express trail to Repos. Enough snow to take the express but just barely. Got to Repos at 11:15 am looked like they were giving stuff away. Crazy how many sleds were there. It was a Zoo. I could not get away from there fast enough. Topped off and headed on down the 345 to 360 passed another 30 sleds headed up at least. Reached the 360 and was glad to be headed away from Cabanon and all the traffic coming from there. 360 was simply great and no problems all the way to Mattawin. Stopped for gas and late lunch had a discussion and decided we would try the River to Grand Mere. Headed out of the resto and caught a group of Tourists on Rentals. Watching that is enough to make you wonder how they survive a day out there let alone a week. Scary stuff not just riding the middle but all on the left side. Totally crazy. Anyway trail was great right to river. Got on at Mekinac and was just enough snow to make it no problem all the way down. Arrived in Grand Mere and found the trails in awesome shape really great all the way to the house. Looking real good. Great Day and great trails. Alot of traffic for sure. Not sure but around 250 miles i think today. (i don't keep track) the guys usually tell me. I know overall for 6 days and 2 with late starts we got 1581 miles for 6 days riding. Happy Trails

Day 5 Lac Faillon to Barrage Gouin Very Cold this Morning -34 yeah not great. Alot of sleds had no go go today this morning. The cold did not discriminate was every brand represented. Needless to say we got them going and headed out on 83 east on a freshly groomed trail toward Balbazard. Absolutely awesome to Balbazard. Continued on and came to the spot with the bad 30 Miles. Little did we know(we know now) about 5 miles past Balbazard the 83 takes a left so we did. However if going east you can continue on the straight trail and there are no trees trying to take your head off. This should be marked as detour and its not. Note anyone headed west on 83 from Clova its 24 miles to where 83 goes to the right toward the trees of doom, stay straight to detour around the bad section. Anyway I have certainly seen worse but no fun for sure. All great after to clova and stopped for gas and lunch. Left Clova continued toward Parent. Some Icy corners for sure near Parent but real good trail. Gassed in Parent continued on awesome conditions all the way to the west trail to Barrage Gouin. Trail to Barrage was great little hard but flat and nice. Great stay as always up there great people and good stop. If you have not been there give it a try. Go there. All in all good stuff. 239 miles.

Day 4 Wed. Royun-Noranda to Lac Faillon Left Royun Noranda around 9am today needed a little hot water on the Vector fuel pump to bring her to life. 3 apex started right up. Cold Cold Cold Trails out of town fresh groom. Hooked onto the 83 west and cruised toward Val d'Or. Stopped in Cadilac for a little gas and some warmth. Trails Superb absolutely great. Continued to Val d'Or on great trail by-passed the city and headed for Louvincourt. Took the gas and a late lunch to warm up and headed out for Lac Faillon. Took the 386 south then east to 83 and on to Lac Faillon. All trails great conditions and excellent snow. Super cold. Group of 6 came in to Lac Faillon around 7pm no reservations, guess what? No rooms. On they went west. Would not want to be them tonight. Wicked cold to be out night riding for sure. So far so good headed east on 83 to Gouin for Thursday night. Stay tuned.